Thoughts on Using Mesquite for scales on Hard use Knives..

[Tolly]

I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on using real wood, namely Mesquite, as scale material on a hard use large knife like a Rat7 or 9 or the like? You just don't ever seem to see it done, but I think I would really like it. I have a giant piece of Mesquite burl that I have already had three sets of grip stocks for various custom 1911s made from and I also have a custom built pre 64' Win Mod70 .308 Norma that wears a custom Mesquite stock that is absolutely beautiful. I would really like to have some knife scales made out of Mesquite as well, just wondering why you don't see it done more often? Thanks.

 

[ashtxsniper]

beautiful wood but it is very heavy and very hard to work with. It can crack easily also. It is very hard though.

 

[Mick R.]

I've had great luck with mesquite and really haven't found it much different than any other hardwood to work with. I put some mesquite scales on an ATS-34 blade I bought from Gene Martin (Provision Forge) and it's held up extremely well under very hard use. My brother is a hunting guide in South Texas has used the knife to dress out a couple hundred feral hogs (and a ton of whitetail deer) and has had no problems with the mesquite.

BTW, Gene Martin of Provision Forge makes outstanding blades (D2, ATS-34) if you're into building your own kit style knives. http://www.customknife.com/

 

[cutter17]

Bark River Knives uses this handle material and those knives are meant for some serious use! Is this wood able to be stabilized?

 

[StretchNM]

You could try some PEG stabilizer, but the best bet would be to use aged mesquite. By that, I mean wood that has air-dried for years and has stabilized on its own. Humidity changes aside, once a dense wood like mesquite has settled down completely, there'll be few changes (splits, cracks, movement) to worry about. But look, if a knifemaker from Tucson is making mesquite scaled knives and selling them t buyers in some ultra-high humidity place like north-central Louisiana, there might be a crack or two after awhile.

I wouldn;t hesitate to use mesquite for knife scales, especially for my own knives. I should do that - I have a large chunk of mesquite that's been hanging out with me in the shop for almost 10 years. Now, all I need is a larger collection of knives so that I can feel comfortable taking the scales off of one or two.....